FURTHER details emerged last night of Britons caught up in the tsunami disaster.

The families of a young British couple spoke of their fears after revealing they have not heard from their loved ones since Christmas Day.

Sarah Emily Bent, 19, and her boyfriend Robert William Rowbottom, 21, both from York, were staying at Charlie Beach Resort, Koh Phi Phi, in Thailand, over Christmas when disaster struck.

The couple are now missing and both families have not had any contact with the holidaymakers since Christmas Day.

Miss Bent was a student at Northumbria University, studying travel and tourism and had flown out to Bangkok to meet her boyfriend for the Christmas festivities when the earthquake hit on Boxing Day.

Mr Rowbottom graduated this summer from Newcastle University with a BSc in agribusiness. He was a former pupil at St Peter's School, in York, while his girlfriend attended Tadcaster Grammar School and Queen Margaret's School, in Escrick.

In a statement the families said: "Robert and Sarah were both having a fantastic holiday and last spoke to their families on Christmas Day.

"Robert was taking a gap year and travelling around south-east Asia and Australia. Sarah flew out to Bangkok on December 9 to spend Christmas and New Year with him before flying back from Singapore on January 1 to resume her studies, while Robert was flying onto Australia.

"Both families have been helping each other and have also had enormous support from their families and friends. They have also appreciated the help and support from Australian friends Scott and Sue Wilson and their family who live in Bangkok.

"Sue and Scott were staying on Koh Lanta and survived the tidal wave and since then have been tireless in their efforts to find Sarah and Robert. The support and care that both families have received from the Thai people and Embassy staff in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi has been tremendous."

Both families have requested no more media interviews.

Also missing is backpacker Leanne Cox, 23, from Hartlepool, who was staying in a beach hostel with friends on Phi Phi island, Thailand.

Her father, Alan, yesterday told the BBC how his daughter climbed a tree to try to escape the tsunami.

He has spoken to her companions, all of whom survived.

He said: ''They had breakfasted and were dressed and had come back in the room and they heard this enormous noise and thought it was an earthquake and the place collapsed with the water.

''They were then carried along with the water, they were fairly close, and then the currents were that strong, it just forced them apart.

''As the first waves subsided, Leanne's best friend saw Leanne apparently trying to climb a tree, but then she was carried further along.''

Leanne's stepmother, Diane, said they had heard from Leanne on Christmas Day.

''She was very happy and was loving every minute of it, and actually described the island as a paradise,'' she said.

''She was thoroughly enjoying it."

Meanwhile, a York schoolgirl told how she had to kick down a bungalow door to save herself and her terrified sisters from rising seawater in the Maldives.

Emily Gibbons, 15, who goes to the Mount School, in York, suffered a cut thigh and bruises, after she kicked down the bungalow door to escape with her family.

Her twin sisters Hannah and Steph, 17, mother and father Tony and Deb, both 44, and Mrs Gibbons's mother, Margaret Cowley, 75, also survived.

The floodwater swept the three teenagers out into a lagoon, while their grandmother was dramatically rescued after being swept out to sea while walking on a beach.

Hannah Gibbons said: "My bed was right by the window. I looked out and saw water rising over the patio. I thought it was a freak wave, but it just kept rising."

The family, from Scagglethorpe, near Malton, North Yorkshire, were reunited on the roof of the resort restaurant. They were taken to another island and returned home on Tuesday.

Mrs Gibbons said: "It's put us off holidays. I never want to go anywhere again.

"I'm thoroughly grateful to be alive. I don't think we realised the enormity of it until we got home. We're the lucky ones."

Grandfather Brian Clayton, 58, died trying to save drowning children in Thailand.

Mr Clayton, originally from Newcastle but who now lives in Australia, was on holiday with his wife, Patsy, in Phuket.

Mrs Clayton, who scrambled to safety, said: "It all happened so quickly.

"One minute the waters were calm and the next minute he was getting sucked into the ocean.

"He was not only my husband but my best friend and was always by my side. I will miss him terribly."